Description: When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Escaping from his unbearable Muggle guardians to Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles into a sinister adventure when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which could be valuable, dangerous, or both. (via blurb on book)

Thoughts: This was my 3rd time reading the book since I started this blog and just like the first time that I read the book (before I had this blog), I really enjoyed the book. What I liked abo…

Description: Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. (via Goodreads)

Thoughts: Even though there were times that it was difficult for me to concentrate on the book and felt that it was a little slow at times, I …

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a fun weekly meme that is hosted byShelia at Book Journey, in which we share what we've read and reviewed and what we plan on reading in the coming week.

Books finished this week:None

Books reviewed this week:None

Books I hope to finish this week:
• A Sudden Light • Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone • A Discovery of Witches Books I hope to work on this week:• Lawrence in Arabia• The Woman in White• The Count of Monte Cristo• Five Days at Memorial• Anna and the French Kiss• Delicious! • The Color Purple • The Thousand Dollar Tan• Howard's End

I know that the Sunday Salon is a place to talk about one is reading and other bookish related things, not sign up for reading challenges/read-a-thons, but it is also a space that I can do with what I like. So I am going to use that for those things for that reason.

Christmas Spirit Read-a-thon
I have done this for at least a couple of years and this will be my third time doing this read-a-thon. The best part of this read-a-thon is that you only have to read at least one holiday tale during the read-a-thon and since it happens during Jenn's Bookshelves Thankfully Reading Weekend, its a nice way of easing into the holiday season.

Here are a few guidelines that Michelle has give for the Read-a-Thon:

Read-a-Thon dates: Monday, November 24 at 12:00am CST until Sunday, November 30 at 11:59pm CST (adjust your time zone accordingly)You do not have to be signed up for the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge to participate (but I sure would love for you to join us!)I am not requiring that …

I haven't done this for some time and thought that with fall finally settled in, I would try this again.

Here are the guidelines:

Go to your blog.Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.Try to challenge yourself: list five you are dreading/hesitant to read, five you can’t WAIT to read, five you are neutral about, and five free choice (favorite author, rereads, ancients — whatever you choose.)Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog by next Monday.Monday morning, we’ll announce a number from 1-20. Go to the list of twenty books you posted, and select the book that corresponds to the number we announce.The challenge is to read that book by January 5, even if it’s an icky one you dread reading! (No fair not listing any scary ones!)Here is my list: MiddlemarchLittle WomenJane EyreNorth and SouthThe Canterbury TalesTess of the D'UrbervillesMadame BovaryThe Count of Monte CristoThe Woman in WhiteWar & PeaceLady Susan/ The Watsons/ SanditionC…